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Nice writeup, Bruce. What a night!! It was quite festive!! My favorite is the song Blue Christmas that Dr. Joe cleverly changed the lyrics to suit the occasion!! And who could forget about Santa Joe!!!! And the scoorage of Barrow Road (Dougie). I could go on and on!! I hope Susieee didn't get too hurt by that reindeer.
And thank God Mr. Oops didn't show up!

I hope Santa will be extra good to you this year!

Have you heard from Doug? We were all wondering if he is really a scrooge or if he has a little sense of humor.

For those that weren't able to attend Friday night, you really have to see this one in person. The pictures just don't tell the whole story. Either Bruce's camera malfunctioned or he overlooked Susieee, Grier's chimney and the letter to Santa. I know it was a lot to take in.

Aw, Doug's a good guy. I showed him the photo (he said he hadn't seen the display) and he was fine with it. I think he thought it was funny; he certainly didn't seem mad.

And the display certainly is a lot to take in. I realize I probably didn't do it justice. If I had to depend on my photography skills to make a living, I'd starve!

But a reader named Jane sent in a nice photo of the tree, which I added above.

Santa just woke up from a Long Winters Two Day Nap.....

WOW,,,You North High point Cats sure know how to throw a XMAS Bash....

Santa learned alot about Guilford County Schools while sitting by the fire barrel,,seems that GCS has a Group of Idiots running the show.

If Santa ran his Workshop like this grier boy runs the schools,,,,there would be NO TOYS for anyone at Christmas....

Hey, Gotta go,,,I'm heading for the Coal Mines of Kentucky to pick up a load of Gifts for your school board.

HO,,HO,,HOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!

Bruce,

Thanks for posting the pictures. Those North High Point folks aren't so bad are they?

Note to some(you know who you are)on the School Board:

Imagine for just one second-- if your egos will allow-- what could be accomplished IF you had these clever North High Point folks on your team....

It's NOT too late to allow High Point High Schoolers a REAL, Merry Christmas. You know what to do. Get "IT" outta here.

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for the invite it was a blast, i have meet some great folks here in North High Point over the past few months. Glad to see no one got locked up.
Joe the bounty hunter

Joe Bounty Hunter,

You didn't even get to use your hand cuffs. See it didn't get too rowdy! I knew you were ready if Joe in the van drove by. He's mighty fast but those North High Point Cowboys are fiestier and faster wranglers.

Dr. Joe sang some mighty powerful stuff. That Santa Joe who knew the general and had just come from his visit with President Bush was very interesting. What a speech!

Just a note to say THANKS for the hospitality on a cold Friday night. I was honored to be given my "NO LOTTERY" cup, along with my "IT" SUCKS lollipops from Santa, an official Joe name tag along with a Jane tag for my bride, toasted marshmallows, hot chicken wings, an adult beverage, a warm kettle fire, a couple of Greenpointown Christmas carols orchestrated by Dr Joe, and heart-felt Christmas wishes from the other SW Joe's and Jane's. A true definition of NEIGHBOR!

WHAT A NIGHT TO REMEMBER!

I am enjoying my bendable little yellow "no lottery" man party favor. He is smiling and saying "I'll have a nice day when the lottery ends." I hope the school board will be as "flexible" he is and bend a little. 6 flexible people. That's all it takes.

My dog ate the "IT" sucks lollipop.

I was a little overdressed for the occasion but I still had fun.

Thank you North High Point neighbors for the warm barrel fire.

Snif...snif....all this reminiscing is making me so sad. The NO LOTTERY get-together was all that our High Schools are not--neighbors enjoying common bonds. How sad to be there together, while our kids are all spread out in several different schools.

If the schoolboard would only realize that a sense of community is the foundation for familes and kids... Oh, wait. They know this, because they are afforded the privilege of a neighborhood school.

I see that not all of the schoolboard members have responded to Bruce Buchanan's request about where their kids go to school. Are they hiding something?

Thank you Joe and Jane for doing all you can to keep a community together. Really, that night brings tears to my eyes. The schoolboard is missing an awesome opportunity to gain benefits from a well educated, caring group of parents--their loss I guess.

TO THE NORTH HIGH POINT DISPLAY COMMITTEEE:

PLEASE CONTACT MAYOR BECKY ASAP. I HEARD SHE KNOWS WHERE YOU CAN GET RED LIGHT CAMERAS REAL CHEAP. THEY WON'T BE NEEDING THEM ANYMORE SINCE THE SCHOOLS WILL BE GETTING THE RED LIGHT MONEY.

THEY TAKE EXTREMELY HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS OF VANS THAT DRIVE BACKWARDS DOWN A ONE WAY ROAD.

THIS COULD BE A REAL BARGAIN ADDITION TO YOUR SECURITY SYSTEM.

I received another school board response this morning, this one from Susan Mendenhall:

She said she has no children currently attending GCS (or private school) and no grandchildren yet.

Thanks for the notoriety, folks.

Bruce, I'm not surprised they won't say who they are. This is a case where it would be a lot more embarrassing to be known as the perpetrator than the target.

Doug,
we have to be careful since there are, believe it or not, some nasty people/organisations about.
These people are capable of doing many things.

Even stealing your children!

I think that is a good reason to be careful. Don't you?

No, I thought it was because you didn't want your kids to know you're acting like you teach them not to act.

I know you are trying to provoke Doug and it won't work.
Actually, we are all very proud of what we did!
I have been open with my children and I know that they will learn from this. They will learn to stand up for themselves and not let greedy selfish people push them around.
Not only that, they will learn that if you lose a battle don't give up.
Fight for what is right and you will win in the end!

Doug, unforunately I missed the festivities but from the pictures I received there were several school children in attendance.

As far as what your children are learning from this action there is the invaluable life lesson of a refusal to bend over and take it when it comes to the inappropriate actions of others.

I gave Jane an ornament for the tree today. The general will really like it.

If you have any medals or accommodations you would like to donate for the tree, please give to Jane.

Buckmtn:

Would that be "please give me another sir?"

Those SW pumpkin face children are tough.

I not giving this group any decorations until they put up a Festivus pole.

Jane, now that I look at Doug's costume again it is very close to a hooded robe at which point in the movie he would say "Assume the position"

And then he expects your child to say "thank you Sir, may I have another?".

I would confidently argue that any of the parents behind this display have had rather extensive talks with their children about what is right and wrong and refusing to blindly accept when things are WRONG.

Unlike the gangs which currently run rampant in our school system, no personal property has been damaged, no taxpayer dollars have been wasted, and no one has been physically harmed.

What I have been unable to determine is if these same parents purchased any of these supplies or the Christmas tree from minority owned vendors. Please be advised that Deena, Amos, Skip, Bruce and Carolyn need to know this information. I didn't include Walter because he typically sleeps through the meetings and seldom has anything to say.

Speaking of "targets", mmmmmmm, that would be the Southwest Middle School children for the past two years. They were the targets when the bison stampeded these little cowboys and cowgirls then came and took them to their coral.

Is not saying who you are kind of like people driving vans and small pick-up trucks in pairs who trespass and remove holiday displays?

Thank goodness the neighbor with the binoculars got both license plate numbers. (You can always change your license plate number but a little more expensive to trade vans.)

Another reader send me a couple of photos, which I have just added. So scroll back up and check them out, if you like.

Thanks for all the help with these photos!

Buckmtnman,

It's America. They looked for the best price to save money. Some vendors were white, some black, some yellow, some pink, some purple with spots. Some had red noses and flew at the head of the sleigh.

It's too bad our school system can't look for the best deal to save the taxpayers money.

Whoever made that quilt is one talented Jane. Looks like Frosty has NO CHOICE!

Buckmtn, I hate to mention what kind of costume it looks like the Ghost of SW Past is wearing. Just make the hood a little pointier ... Am I being lynched in effigy? Is that why you all hide your identities? Just wondering if I need to sit out in my front yard with a shotgun tonight.

Doug,

I think Southwest people are harmless just very frustrated with the system.

I know you are very proud of your son and rightfully so. I'm sure you would go to the ends of the earth if you felt he was being wronged.

I know my children have lost touch with friends and are very saddened by it. It’s hard to watch your children not enjoying what should be the best years of their lives. It’s even harder when you know that this crazy plan is not working and is NOT the answer to the problems in the school system.

Hope you have a great holiday!

Doug,
That is a very SAD comment about our Ghost of SW past. You could possibly could be a sadder individual than any of us. You have a shotgun in your house too!
When Bruce said that you were a "good guy" and you then made a sporting comment at the start I was actually started to have a guilty conscience.
Thank goodness you have showed your true colors and proved that you really are the Scrooge of Barrow rd after all.

Hey Jane,

Is that quilt for sale? I would love to own it!! The picture looks great, but it looked even better in person Friday night. You are one talented person, Jane!!

I think Doug was just kidding, Joe. You poke fun at him, he pokes fun at you - at least that's how I read it. I don't think he meant any ill will, just as I don't think the folks who built that display intend it in a mean-spirited way.

But if you dish it out, you gotta be willing to take it. That's why I try to be nice to everyone; I don't want to do either!

Thanks, Bruce and Sally, for nice comments.

It's kind of hard to see the humor in remarks by people like "remingtonsqueal," which unfortunately seem to be quite prevalent lately. I wouldn't sign my name, either, if I were him.

Those remarks, and the "Christmas" display, don't fit my idea of what this season is about. But it's a free country. If you express your opinions, and put your name with them, you have to expect to draw some criticism. You would hope critics would have enough integrity to identify themselves, but that's not reality these days.

And, no, I don't really own a shotgun. Santa never even brought me a Red Ryder BB gun.

Doug, just what is your hang-up about people voicing their opinion without revealing their identity?

Do you have a problem with everyone voting via a secret ballot every November and not revealing their identity? Ultimately, doesn't everyone state an opinion then was well?

Scrooge is one thing but rascist and KKK references are another.

Dear Smug, I mean Doug,

A member of the editorial staff is a fine one to be complaining about not signing what you write.

By the way, I have nothing against Central except that it's the SEVENTH closest school to my home. Grimsley is closer to me than Central. Does this sound logical to you?

Your son went to Central. Correct me if I am wrong in saying it was your neighborhood school, the closest to your home. All I want for my kids is what your son had and what every member of the Board of Education currently enjoys.

The closest school to me by far is Ragsdale. I would love for my kids to go there. From my measurments, Western is second, followed by Southwest, Smith, then Andrews, Grimsley, and Central. If you'd like to ride along and do the math sometime, let me know.

I wish you would post this information in an editorial and then explain to the general public how this is logical in any way. Please explain how this helps education or cures social ills. The only response I get when I explain the distances to people is "that's crazy"!

Finally, as a journalist, you sure don't seem to like free speech and the open exchange of ideas.
I will NEVER allow my kids to be persecuted and treated so unfairly. There is nothing wrong with Central or Andrews, but as a matter of principle, my kids will never set foot in either one.

Signed,
Scott Burnette
Jamestown (not High Point)

I hope we can all continue this conversation with Doug tomorrow on HIS blog. Any strand, just jump in. He loves it when we do that!

Bruce, this is the "good guy" you told us about?

Sandy, the quilt might be for sale. I kinda wanted to give it to Dotty for Christmas but...we might be able to make a deal. Those displays get expensive!

Jayne,

How about using the quilt to raise $$ for a needy family. A SW family is having severe monetary problems (eviction, etc.) due to the father's terminal illness. I offer the first bid @ $100 plus your cost of materials. Are you game for this type of a fund raiser?

Great Idea Tim,

The General bids $110,,,,,,,Do I hear $120 Doug?????????????

How could I say NO to that?

Is this the quilt you want to use because I just threw some clipart together for this design. The possibilities are endless.

You're the best Janey! I think the original will fetch the highest bids!

I must re-bid because of the General's generous offer. My new bid is $125

Don't look now, but Doug is having nightmares over on Doug's Place about being Scrooge. Something about Christmas and the Ghost of Christmas Past. I do believe that the man is having anxiety attacks after his experience on Southwest School Road last Friday. Does anyone think that Scrooge will really come to his senses and repent in time?

Maybe he decided if you can't beat 'm join 'm. He's just humoring you. Remember the story, Scooge does change. He sees the light. I wish I could say the same for our school board. There's hope yet. 6 little votes. That is all it takes.

Now do the North HP pranksters all get turkeys for Christmas from the N & R? Better yet, lunch at the Chop House on the N & R and Terry Grier. Now that would be the Christmas Spirit.

As I've commented in prior discussions, here is my perception of this entire High Point (HP) school thing and the reason why the Guilford County School Board (GCSB) is redistributing the kids around the various schools.

1) Recent HP employer study concluding that HP school students are incapable of being hired - Their conclusion was that the average HP graduate was not obtaining the necessary skills to perform the most basic tasks for the manufacture of furniture products.

2) FANTASIA BARRINO (FB) and her illiteracy issue, courtesy of the HP schools - FB's recent tome on the sad and despairing life she experienced in HP and it's schools is another reason why I strongly feel the GCSB is steadfast in it's determination to offer a better educational environment in HP.

FB sullied HP's reputation to the world and eloquently has made it evident (she needed a ghost writer for her book and couldn't proofread it cause she can't read)that the school system let her down. Thus, to prevent future FB's from occurring, the GCSB among many of it's necessary implementations, decided to redistribute HP students from the good and bad schools in order to bring a greater academic balance to those schools who were in need of it. Their foresight and unselfishness in this matter is to be commended.

This is what teamwork is all about, kids wanting to help each other (to the consternation of their narrowminded parents) in order to achieve better grades and heaven forbid never to wind up like FB - famous, talented, rich, yet illiterate, and GTHPCHIC (Goodbye to High Point, Charlotte here I come).

In a sad sort of way, the employers of HP and FB have helped to provide the structure and momentum to improve the educational experience for the youth of HP. They, as well as the GCSB, are to be thanked for their courage to say the things that to some are hurtful, but to others, needed to be said years ago.

Jon,
you mean, our children have to help the adults of the SB and the Educational system to do their job?

That is wrong. T.Grier just needs to do his job. Why can other schools with worse FRL, worse teacher to student ratios get better results than Andrews and Central. It is nothing to do with the children. Dont you see that? Give them
Quality and correct number of teachers and better resources instead of spending on buses and fake academies that no one wants.

Central and Andrews arent the only failing schools. Lets get some on those NW and Lake Jeanette folks on a bus too then if it is so good.
YOU ARE A SAD IDIOT! Go and stick your head back up your backside again please.

By the way. ScottB has hit on one of the main problems of SW. If Jamestown meadows was put in their closest school then SW would not be overcrowded. Going to you 5th,6th or 7th closest school is the most obsurd thing I have ever heard of.

ohmyg-d,

Apparently you've missed the point.

The HP school system (part of GCounty) is the system in need of major overhauling. Lake Jeanette & the NorthWest are working quite well and are not in the sad condition of, I assume, your school district.

If LJ & NW were experiencing the problems that have so beset your school district (academically challenged students, lack of diversity, HP employer concerns, FB, etc.) then the GCBS would address that issue, which at this point is not an issue peculiar to them, only to the HP system.

Didn't my lucid comments on the HP employer's concerns about HP student education as well as poor FB's experience register with you?

And stop further insulting your HP educational system by referring to me as an idiot. We're adults, at least I am, so act like it.

Jon,

you are obviously a typical person who is not a stake holder here. I mean you don't have any children being kidnapped and transported miles away from your home to "help" other children.

Please tell me I am wrong? Tell me where you children go to school.

Jon-

Thanks for your take on this, but I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you. Put yourself in these parents' shoes for just a minute, and please consider the following:

You work very hard to afford a property in a neighborhood with a school that you like. With little of no parental input, you are told of a plan that requires your child to travel significantly past your neighborhood school to attend a school across town. This, of course, is restricted to High Point and no other area of the county. And why is this happening? So that your child can somehow magically incite another child to learn better or more completely.

Meanwhile, because you had no choice or say in the implementation of this plan, you're feeling a sense of distrust of the board, extremely frustrated because you felt that your collective voices were not heard, the sense that the Board is discriminating against your child because he/she happens to be an academically successful student from a middle class family. I'm not even scratching the surface of what these parents feel, but to base your "perception" on a plan that merely juggles students, rather than addresses the root problems of students' failure to learn is simply ridiculous.

Please take a look at other schools whose students are from poor backgrounds, yet they are successful--what are they doing right? Instead of juggling kids around with no visible academic result, why not learn the lessons of these schools and apply them to the non-performing schools?

And if you think that politics were not involved in this decision, think again. Or better, take a look at the video from the redistricting discussion at Penn-Griffin, when an NAACP representative just about threatened Board members, saying "We (meaning the NAACP)put you in there (meaning in office)" and so forth. Do you really think that enhances a sense of trust among the parents on this blog?

I think that most people want all children to learn and be successful. But to railroad in a plan that still is not working is simply wrong. Fantasia Burrino did not cause the implementation of the choice plan, nor did the HP study. You could commission a study over in Greensboro which would likely come up with a similar result.

I think that all children can learn, irregardless of their backgrounds. The school board would do well to pursue a plan in which the community can WORK TOGETHER to address.

One last thing, Jon. I noticed in this and some of your other posts, you chastised these parents for being "narrowminded" etc. These very frustrated parents are very concerned for their children. They have been forced into a situation in which they have no say, yet their tax dollars are working to finance. Is it not narrowminded of you to judge these people without walking in their shoes?

And that is MY perception of this situation, Sir.

Jon is right: that comment was completely inappropriate. Let's debate the issues, not call each other names. You know - in the spirit of Christmas?

Whats worse? A little harmless name calling or the abduction of your child by force?

Depends on your point of view of course.

What about in the spirit of christmas Jon tell us where his children go to school.

Typical,

My son attends High School in Guilford County in the Greensboro address zone. He attended middle school in a High Point address zone and was bused on a daily basis 15 miles one way to attend that school for three years. And guess what, he's turned out to be a normal child, can you believe it, change has not caused the kid to be dysfunctional, leaving old friends and making new ones, realizing there are positive events that can happen for those who are not afraid of venturing outside of "Mayberry."

Bruce,

Thank you for taking ohmyg-d to the woodshed. In my life's experience, I've come to realize that those that holler the loudest, NAME CALL (as ohmyg-d and some others have done to me), and act like other than adults are usually the ones whose arguments and positions are without merit.

I'm not taking anyone out to the woodshed, Jon - that's not my intent at all.

I'm just politely asking folks to be civil to each other here. Debate the issues as vigorously as you like, but keep it respectful. HP Resident's post is a fine example of taking a firm, forceful stand, but doing it in a respectful way.

Why, thank you, Bruce. I must admit, though, I was THINKING unkind thoughts toward, Mr. Jon :)

Bruce,

Yes, HP Resident was able to control his/her "unkind thoughts" about my logical and less than hysterical position of reasonableness in this discussion. For that I commend and acknowledge her points, though I don't agree.

However, I still stand by my statement that you took ohmyg-d out to the woodshed.

Then let me ask you this, Mr. Jon-

You mentioned that your child attended middle school in a High Point address zone and had a turned out to be "a normal kid."

1. In an earlier post you indicated that the "HP school system is in need of a major overhauling". Yet your child seemed to get a good education at a HP school, because he turned out to be a normal kid--those statements seem inconsistent to me--would you agree?

2. Say your child was forced to go to a school, further from your home, which has posted low EOG and AYP scores. Now, you have a school right across the street that posts high scores, but because your child is not on free and reduced lunch, your child has to go across town to the school with low test scores, would you be upset?

3. Is the above your idea of an optimim overhaul of the High Point school system?

I'm not trying to be argumentative--I really would like to know.

Jon,

The school system was busing High Point students long before the employee study report and Barino news broke!

Was your son bused or did he voluntarily attend a magnet/option/choice school? Or, do you live so far out in the country that the nearest school was fifteen miles away.

Would you please give some details on your son's busing situation?

It's the job of fellow students to tutor or leave their neighborhood schools unless the voluntarily choose to in order to better their peers education. That is why we have a school system with a board and many, many employees and parents.

Most teens already have enough to deal with in their lives without non-custodial adults putting more pressure on them.

I'm sorry but your attempt to paint a rosy picture of this plan does not hold any merit with me.

Show me some educational value in this plan.

Here are few quick facts about the three High Point high schools.

Last year tutors volunteered 1120 hours at Southwest, 932 hours at Andrews and 4342 hours at Central. If a failing school is receiving 4342 hours in volunteer tutoring and still not getting results to you really think busing is going to help. I question why some of that tutoring was not split between the other schools? Central had twice as many tutoring hours than the other two schools put together.

Meant to say

It's not the job of fellow students to tutor or leave their neighborhood schools unless they voluntarily choose to in order to better their peers education. That is why we have a school system with a board,many, many employees and parents.

Me thinks Jon is a Jon-EE-come-lately dis-interested third party dilletante who likes to stir the pot. Fair enough. Enjoy yourself, and have a Merry One.

Given that, I still must admit, you are the first person that I ever heard defend the Choice pLan who did not stand to potentially gain in some way from it. Most rational, objective people would never dream of supporting a educational diversity policy based on holding a raffle at a single middle school in a county of over thirty middle schools and busing the losers away to one of the four worst highschools in the state when the kids would not be normally slated to go there- a policy only accomplished by the absolute desertion of these kids and parents by their elected representative who again, had their own self-interested motives. If you think this a is a good policy, I guess we can't argue with you. If you were one of these parents or kids, I'd wager you'd feel diffferently.

What do you fellow chalkboard followers think of the GCS “take a friend program”?

If you are not familiar, it’s a recruitment tool used at the high schools. Students that are recommended for AP courses are encouraged to ask a friend to sign up with them. The program was designed to make the “new environment” and coursework in these classes “less intimidating.”

Sounds like an innovative idea to fill the classrooms with more AP students.

Jon,

I am not totally familiar with GC school options but I suspect that your child has been bussed by "YOUR CHOICE" and probably to a magnet of "YOUR CHOICE" and probably surounded by the very brightest.

Totally different Jon.

In NHP we have NO CHOICE.

Tally Ho. Add our friend Jon to the list with the school board who have educated all of their children with THEIR CHOICE.

Jon made the comment before at Doug's place that his kid rode a school bus 2 hours and with no complaint even though Jon could see his son's neighborhood school from his house. I challenged him on that there, but he never responded, just as he has not here.

Methinks that Jon is not totally forthcoming on this claim. I can only agree with some others that if he lives in Greensboro and his son attended middle school in High Point that it was voluntarily at a magnet school. Wouldn't Penn-Griffin meet that criteria? So, did Jon's kid attend Penn-Griffin? If so, the 15 mile/2 hour ride to school was voluntary, and a magnet school such as Penn-Griffin is not a typical example of schools in High Point. If this is the case, then Jon is spinning this tale a bit much. If this is not the case, then Jon come forward and give us the facts. By the way, where does our kid go to high school now, Jon?

*******************UPDATE************************

Tally for children of School Board members....AND "Jon":

NONE involved in a school lottery.

NONE forced to go to a magnet.

ALL allowed the opportunity to attend their "neighborhood" school.

Notice a pattern here???

Sally,

You can take "all the friends" you want and pack the A/P room. It does not mean they are capable of doing the work or passing the A/P college exam. If students are pushed into these classes and aren't capable, it will only hurt them.

Have you seen the Algebra I results in most of the schools? What does that tell you. Students aren't even learning the basics. They can't do math or read. I think the basics should come first. When they graduate, what are they qualified to do?

To all: I notice that Jon is always blogging over at Dougie's. It is so very apparent he knows nor understands nothing about the IT plan. This is quite clear when he mentioned IT coming about because of Fantasia and the Mayor's study. What a joke!!! Fantasia was never heard of when this plan came to be. The mayor did the study when she was backed against the wall with the evidence in her face that everyone ALREADY knew. What could she do? deny, deny, deny? Call Fantasia a liar? No, she had a "commission" to say what we all know. And by the way, Jon, the same problems on non-education/non-qualification are in the entire county.

Methinks Jon is a troll sent by others, C Boy. That is why he "appears" to have no interest. You can tell he does not understand anything about the IT Plan. And if it is so great then give it to the rest of the county. Ignore, ignore, ignore.

Since when is it up to students to teach other students. This is not a socialist country although some of our school board members seem to think that way. We pay a school board and superindendent and staff to educate.

And on a real important note (BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STRAND), thank you, Jane, for putting ponchos on the little Pumpkin Face children today so they won't get frost-bite. I noticed you put a plastic cover over Susie too so she wouldn't get wet. So kind of you to do this.

Now, Jon, please go back to finding another bloggie that you know something about. It is not the IT PLAN.

Jon,

You are sounding pretty deluded to me. I want to be clear..you think it's ok for you child to be forcibly bussed to a sub-par school so he/she can help raise the academic standards of that school. Forget about the quality of his education, he should want to help others at his own expense. And, i guess that you will be willing to support him after he becomes an adult since he will be illiterate after attending that sub-par school. ah, no matter, eventually, through his and countless others sacrifice, the sub-par school, may someday become a better school.

I'm glad to hear that you are so community minded. Just, FYI, I'm not willing to sacrifice my childrens' education for the "greater good" My children are part of MY Choice plan, and are attending excellent private schools this year, getting a quality education. It is unfortunate that not every one of the affected parents in High Point has this option. I guess that you will be sending your child to Andrews.

You go Mike G!!!

Did someone spike the eggnog in Greensboro? I happens a lot this time of year.

I don't know of kid on a long bus ride that is not by there by true Choice of going to a real magnet (other than the IT plan SW kids) OR if they are on a longer bus ride they are going with their entire neighborhood as another school because there is none closer.

I ran into some friends who have 8th graders yesterday and they are moving to Davidson County or further, selling their house for a loss if the IT Plan does not go away. It just keeps happening.

And yes, this is still AMERICA! What Jon does NOT GET is you cannot force people. Those who can't move or don't want to will never quit fighting for what they believe in. Others will move and take the loss or go private. This is known as "Urban Blight" and it is happening to many downtown school systems. It is happening in the City of the Dead and they just don't know how to plug it. It is definitely not by forced busing of only the whitest and brightest to Central.

After reading Jon's ridiculous comments, another part of me says he does "GET IT" and just wants to stir the pot for his friends.

Somone on one of the strands mentioned measurable objectives and "results". Another poster mentioned it doesn't take objectives, it takes 6 votes. 6 votes are the results.

As Stormy and some others had previously pointed out....if they had ANY objectives once, they 1) were not every measurable and 2) they have not been met. They were b.s. objectives. The WORLD CLASS programs NEVER came; the school system did not hold up its end of the bargain; the IT Plan is failing on all counts. The AYP's, ABC's and suspension rates are MEASURABLE. And they spell "F A I L U R E" Jon.

And Doug, I know you were only giving back what some others were dishing out - a friendly exchange.

But I saw the SW displays. The ghost of Christmas past just looks like a ghost to me. How else would you make a ghost? Notice the signs in the ghost's hands.

But I can't believe you are still trying to make this a race thing for SW. It gets mighty old.

We all KNOW the truth. Others (you are not included in this statement) can put out all the b.s. rumors they want. But like as they say in a "Few Good Men" - "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"
It's always been about Central and fixing their school they don't like. Some people may still be fooled, but the numbers are becoming less and less.

It's too bad you missed the Penn-G forum. There were sure a lot of emotional speakers over promises made to a certain segment of voters. I think many of the folk in the Andrews area are finally "getting it".

They have seen the truth and it has set them free.